What a bummer to work at a job or business you don’t love. Whether you’re an employee or an entrepreneur, you deserve to be passionate about your work. First, though, you’ll need to believe that it’s possible to have work you really love. Otherwise, you might as well just hang it up now and be resigned to doing work that’s a drag.
I know what it’s like to be engaged in work I’m not really passionate about. Even more than not being passionate about the work itself, I actually wasn’t passionate about the results I was seeking to create in doing that work. This problem was especially obvious when John and I had our business, Steam Engine Financial Coaching. I could point to lives being changed. We helped some people avoid bankruptcy and get out of debt. They moved from stress to peace and security. As good as that stuff is, it didn’t really light me up.
I was genuinely confused that I wasn’t excited to get up every day and get to work. After all, we were changing lives in a significant way. I found myself reluctant, though, to pour myself into the work and to do things that were challenging and stretchy for me. I frequently distracted myself by playing games on the computer and just farting around instead of being really devoted to my work.
Maybe you’re experiencing some of this stuff, too. Can you relate?
- You come in to work late and leave early.
- You do the minimum to get by.
- You spend a lot of time on Facebook when you should be working.
- If you work for yourself, you’re not meeting your income goals.
- You know that the things you have to do are important, but you’re just not motivated.
I can relate to all those things. That’s how it used to be for me.
Now, in contrast, I’m willing to do all kinds of stuff that’s challenging and hard and stretchy. I’m willing to push myself, to do new things and to grow. I wake up thinking about new and better ways to create results in our business, that is, in the lives of other people. It’s all because I’m making a difference I’m truly passionate about.
Remember, for the ultimate sense of meaning, significance and satisfaction, you need two things. First, you must be passionate about the difference you’re making. Second, you must really be in touch with the people whose lives you are changing. If you’ve got both of those things in your work, you’re going to love it.
Can you imagine how awesome it would be if you were really passionate about the results you were creating in the world? What would it be like to be excited to get up and go to work. Maybe you’d even be bummed that it’s the weekend and you’re not going in to work.
All those things are possible for you and more. You really can have work you love. Go ahead and make a difference you’re really passionate about and see for yourself how much you love it!
